Gov’t investing billions to rebuild north and south

Thursday, December 21, 2006 |
by Staff Writer

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has convened the special cabinet for the strengthening of Haifa and the north in order to approve the detailed plans of the different government ministries to strengthen and rebuild the towns and communities of the north and of the Gaza vicinity.

The scope of the government’s investment will reach 2.75 billion shekels (about $660 million), where most of the planning was led by the Office of the Prime Minister and the Office of the Vice Premier.

During the meeting, 11 ministers and directors-general of government ministries outlined their plans which focused on four major objectives: Strengthening the education system, creation of employment as a tool to shrink social gaps, empowering defined populations (seniors, immigrants, minorities, and troubled youth) and increasing the migration of population to the north.

Olmert also emphasized the importance of strengthening the local municipalities as an integral part of the plan to strengthen the north and said that “the government will continue to act to develop the Negev and the Galilee as an essential strategic objective for the future of Israel.”

Director-General of the PM’s Office Raanan Dinur announced for the first time that during the next four years, a sum of about 400 million shekels will be invested to upgrade and renovate seven hospitals in the north and in the communities of the western Negev.

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